BAPS-CASS

The BAPS Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System (BAPS-CASS) is a joint research initiative between BAPS and the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), designed to study the surgical management of a range of rare congenital anomalies

BAPS-CASS uses similar methods to those developed for the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) to conduct anonymised descriptive studies of rare disorders of infancy. Each month a report card is sent to a nominated coordinating clinician in each paediatric surgical unit in the UK, with a tick-box to indicate the condition currently under surveillance. The coordinating clinicians are asked to complete the card, indicating the number of cases of the disorder seen in the hospital during the previous month. Clinicians who report cases are then sent a simple data collection form requesting information on case definition, management and outcomes which can be completed from the case notes. All information collected is anonymous

In this way, the system allows surveillance of a series of different conditions while removing the burden from clinicians of multiple requests for information from different sources.

Initial Surveillance

The first BAPS-CASS survey will focus on gastroschisis and will assess birth prevalence and assess infant outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity associated with different surgical closure procedures. BAPS members are asked to notify any cases of gastroschisis to the coordinating clinician in their unit

BAPS-CASS in the future

BAPS-CASS can be used to conduct a wide range of studies with a number of purposes including improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare disorders, and service planning. Once the proposed study of gastroschisis has been completed, the surveillance system will be used to study the incidence and of management of other index anomalies relevant to paediatric surgeons. Proposals from other investigators to conduct studies using the system are welcome